Hat blocking and storing device



T. A. BRENNAN 2,028,270

HAT BLCCKING AND STORING DEVICE Jam. 2l, 3936.

Filed A ug. 5, 1952 supported by a rim member.

kPatente-d Jan. 21, 1936 UNITED. .STATES l i 2,028,270v

PATENT OFFICE 5 Claims.

This invention relates to hat blocking and storing devices and to a new and improved method of making the same.

Heretofore hat blocking devices had been made in two forms, namely, wood or metal castings.

It has been found that wood is unsatisfactory for the reason that whenever a wooden form is dropped lor struck with any hard object it becomes dented and thus loses its most important function which is to serve as a smooth support so that hats can receive the same smooth contour as that of the wooden insert or form.

Castings are objectionable, first, because of the undue amount of metal which must be used, thus rendering such devices almost prohibitivev due to the expense involved.

It may be said wooden forms are also expensive.v

Castings are additionally objectionable because of the weight of forms made in this manner. Such weight tiring the hat blocker and obviously affecting the efliciency of his work.

It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a means for supporting a hat during blocking and pressing operations. In the preferred form this means comprises a combination of an insert or form having the same shape generally as a hat and a rim supporting member which is adapted to receive a rim of a hat during pressing and blocking operations.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a means which has anotherfunction, that is to serve as a supporting medium for hats being shipped. y

It is the present practice to ship hats in rather fragile containers whichY if subjected to rough treatment necessitates re-blocking of theV hats at their point of destination. The invention hereafter to be described overcomes this difliculty by providing an exceedingly cheap supporting means for hats in transit.

The annexed drawing and the following description set forth in detail certain structure embodying the invention, such disclosed means constituting, however but one of various mechanical forms in which the principle of the invention may be used.

In said annexed drawing Fig. l is a vertical central section of a hat supported by a crown insert.

Fig. 2 is a central vertical section of a hat Fig. 3 is a detail of a modification of a supporting post shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a modification ofthe supporting post shown in Fig. 2 and Fig. 5 is a still further modification of a supporting post.

Referring now to the drawing in Fig. 1, a 5 hat H is illustrated having a crown portion I and a rim portion 2. The inner surface 3 of said crown beingseated upon the outer surface 4 of a member which I shall term'an insert. In the prior art such members have received 10 various names such as blocks, forms, etc. The rim 2 has an upper surface 5 and a lower surface 6 which are operated upon in a subse' quent operation to that upon the crown portion I. The insert l is hollow and may be l5 formed of either flat sheetv metal or tubular stock. Where sheetmetal is used the insert 4 is stamped between appropriate dies to impart thereto the general configuration of a hatf It will be noted that` the lower edge 1 of 20 this insert` is supported on postsv 8, 9 and IU (there beinga fourth post not shown). It will also be observed that the edge 1 extends below .the under surface 6 of the rim portion so that the insert supports the hat away from the ta- 25 ble or work bench in the event that the supporting posts are not used. These supporting posts have grooves so as to engage the lower edge 1 of the insert and to hold it in elevated position where the hat operator may most eas- 30 ily perform his work.

In the-event that the insert is made from tubular material, a'section of a tube has one end receivedin an appropriate die lafter which a second die approaches the tubular section and 35 closes the end approached to form a smooth surface having the general shape of a hat crown.

Referring now to Fig. 2 a ring member I4 is illustrated which has an upper surface I5 upon 40 which the surface 6 of the rim 2 is adapted to be seated. The ring member has an outer porvtion I6 which extends substantially in a vertical direction and a lower edge I1 which is received in grooves in supporting posts I8, I9 and 20. 45 These posts have a length which is suflicient to support a crown I out of engagement with the table or workbench. The vertical portion I6 extends upwardly and is then rounded to merge into the portion I5. 'Ihe distance between edge I'I and the uppermost part of the upper surface I5 being illustrated in Fig. 2 as A. This distance is exactly equal to the distance between the edge 1 and the lower surface 6 of the rim 2 in Fig. 1, said last named distance being designated 55 as B, in Fig. l. The purpose of forming the insert 4 and the ring member I4 with such distances equal is to provide a means for supporting hats during shipment. By simply removing the posts 8, 9 and I0, etc., an insert is available for maintaining a stack of hats in a predetermined shape regardless of the manner in which they are shipped and the treatment to which they are subjected during transit. In practice a hat is slipped over the insert 4 and the ring member I4 is then slipped over the hat, thus providing means for rigidly supporting the crown and rim of a hat or series of hats. A second ring member is preferably used beneath the lowermost rim and if desired more rings may be used.

In Fig. 3 a modified means of supporting an insert is illustrated. In this modification the insert 4 has a projection which may take the form of a lug 25 and this lug has an aperture thereon which is screw threaded to receive the post 8'. l

In Fig. 4 the same means is disclosed for use with the ring member I4'. In this instance, a lug 2S has a screw threaded aperture adapted to receive the supporting post 20.

The post 30 illustrated in Fig. 5 is screw threaded as shown in 3| and also has a slot 32 so that it may be used with either embodiment of the invention.

It is believed that the object and advantage of applicants improved device are fully apparent, however it may be well to note that applicants storing and blocking device is exceedingly cheap to manufacture yet possesses more strength than devices used for the same purpose of the prior art and in addition is capable of two extremely valuable uses. The use of a hat blocking insert as a means for supporting hats during shipment has hertofore been utterly impractical due to the weight of such devices. In sharp distinction to this the applicant has provided a strong, light device which is fully capable of supporting hats during transit so that they may be received in the same condition as when they left the factory.

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employed instead of the one explained, change being made as regards the mechanism herein disclosed, provided the means stated by any of the following claims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention:

1. A hat cleaning and pressing device comprising a ring member of sheet metal, having the general contour of a rim of a hat, said member being adapted to support the rim of a hat in inverted position, the outer periphery of said member terminating in a substantially vertical ange, said member having an upper substantially horizontal surface with a curved surface connecting said horizontal surface and said vertical flange.

2. A hat blocking device comprising a ring member of sheet metal, having the general contour of a rim of a hat, said member being adapted to support the rim of a hat in inverted position, the outer periphery or" said member terminating in a substantially vertical flange and posts engaging said flange and supporting said member in elevated position.

3. A device of the character described comprising a hollow metal insert having the general configuration of the crown of a hat with a smooth continuous surface, said insert having an open end for the reception of the hand of a presser and being formed of sheet metal, said insert being adapted to be placed within a crown of a hat for use in pressing, said insert being adapted for use in pressing a multiplicity of hats of different sizes. v

4. A device of the character described comprising a hollow metal insert having the general configuration of the crown of a hat with a smooth continuous surface, said insert having an open end for the reception of the hand of a presser and being formed of sheet metal, said insert being adapted to be placed within a crown of a hat for use in pressing, said insert being adapted for use in pressing a multiplicity 0f hats of different sizes, the side walls of said insert having a length so as to normally extend below the brim of a hat being pressed.

5. A home hat pressing set comprising a hollow metal insert having the general configuration of the crown of a hat with a smooth continuous surface, said insert having an open end for the reception of the hand of a presser and being formed of sheet metal, said insert being adapted to be placed within a crown of a hat for use in pressing, said insert being adapted for use in pressing a multiplicity of hats of different sizes, a ring member of sheet metal, having vthe general contour of a rim of a hat, said member being adapted to support the rim of a hat in inverted position, the outer periphery of said member terminating in a substantially vertical flange and posts engaging said flange and supporting said member in elevated position.

THOMAS A. BRENNAN. 

